POLIN Muzeum Historii Żydów Polskich

POLIN Muzeum Historii Żydów Polskich

POLIN Muzeum Historii Żydów Polskich
4.5
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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About
The POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews is the first and only museum dedicated to restoring the memory of the civilization created by Polish Jews in the course of a millennium.Museum's building faces the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes in Warsaw. The Museum completes the memorial complex. At the monument, we honor those who perished by remembering how they died. At the museum, we honor them, and those who came before and after, by remembering how they lived. As a museum of life, POLIN Museum engages with the present and opens out to the future. As an educational and cultural institution, the museum is dedicated to stimulating dialogue in the spirit of mutual understanding and respect. Museum's core exhibition is a journey through the 1000-year history of Polish Jews. Enter this theater of history where the story unfolds in acts and scenes as you walk. Immerse yourself in the story. Encounter those who lived in each period - their words are quoted throughout the exhibition. Enter the scene - a salon, tavern, home, church, synagogue, or schoolroom. There are surprises in drawers you can open, screens and objects you can touch, and much that you can see - artifacts, photographs, documents, and films. Each visit to the museum will be different. There will always be something new to inspire you!
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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  • Zajączkowska
    Krakow, Poland39 contributions
    very interactive exhibition
    One of the best museum I have ever seen. It is worth devoting about four hours to this museum. Time passes very quickly, especially at the end. I recommend buying an audioguide (PLN 12 for one), it makes sightseeing much easier. It took us 3 hours to go around the entire museum with an audioguide, but only because it was almost closing time. very interactive exhibition!
    Visited August 2021
    Traveled solo
    Written August 29, 2021
  • Terry L
    Sydney, Australia114 contributions
    Essential
    For someone with no real concept of the struggles of the past 1000 years and only knowing the gruesome WW2 history this was an enlightening if disturbing few hours. You do need to budget 3-4 hours (there is a cafe and facilities). The audio guide is great value and helps navigate. One of the most engaging museums I’ve seen in the world.
    Visited January 2020
    Written January 21, 2020
  • Sellest
    Bushey, United Kingdom5,224 contributions
    Very interesting museum
    Visited here last week with my son. I booked on-line before-hand and also purchased the audio guide (but there was no queue so I am guessing you would be OK just turning up and paying on the day). There is tons to see here so you really need a good 3 to 4 hours to get round everything (we only had 2 ½ hours, so we did not really have time to fully take everything in). The audio guide is good but seeing as the museum runs in one direction and there are explanations at every step of the way you may not necessarily need it. Well worth a visit
    Visited November 2021
    Written December 4, 2021
  • Pippa H
    London, United Kingdom23 contributions
    Lots of information - maybe too much?
    The architecture of the Polin museum is very attractive and there is the option to leave coats in the cloakroom. Although there is a discounted ticket for students the woman at the desk was incredibly difficult and refused our student IDs (standard university IDs from the UK) so we had to pay the regular price. The exhibitions are very interactive and visual, with lots of first hand information as well as historical context. A lot of this information was useful and interesting, but the amount and presentation was overwhelming at times which made it hard to follow. The final rooms which focused on modern history and the treatment of Jewish people during WWII were very moving and interesting.
    Visited February 2020
    Written February 17, 2020
  • joeymanko
    The Villages, Florida10 contributions
    A must-see if you are in Warsaw!!
    I had heard, and even seen on television of the new museum in Warsaw, about the History Of The Polish Jews! What a place! Keep in mind, this is NOT a holocaust musem, despite plenty of displays about that. This is like a trip into time. The design and windows of this structure make it quite unique, and through the various audio and visual displays, it is like you are actually there. This museum is also very educational for children, and recommend you take them also. It is not a "downer", but a celebration of Jewish Life in Poland!!
    Visited May 2019
    Written January 9, 2020
  • Emma
    Bristol, United Kingdom211 contributions
    Lots of interesting information but lacking in artefacts
    I didn't realise how big this museum was before entering, so probably spent too long at the earlier sections because I had to go through the last few parts a bit quicker due to time constraints. There was a lot of interesting information but the museum seemed to have a focus on reading things on the walls, and didn't have a lot of actual historical artefacts etc to look at. There were also several paintings which were replicas so it would have been nice to have more original things. I didn't do the audio guide tour so that may have impacted the experience, but I found it to be quite overwhelming to read everything, and think there were parts that could have been condensed. I think if I'd been doing it with the audio guide and spent less time in each section then it would have been a better experience, but I think it just probably wasn't my style of museum, as I'd rather read a book if absorbing so much information in one go.
    Visited February 2022
    Written February 20, 2022
  • Melody Y
    Taipei, Taiwan15 contributions
    Abundant history knowledge
    I thought it’s a holocaust museum but I was wrong. It starts from the very beginning when Jewish first came to Poland all the way until today. It took me 3 hours yet I didn’t finish all of them. Very very abundant history, so, take your time to take in all the information. There’s an area for visitors to take a break which I think is necessary for the visiting of this museum :)
    Visited January 2020
    Traveled solo
    Written January 20, 2020
  • Poleinahole
    Switzerland2,106 contributions
    Fascinating
    I spent about five hours in this museum in 2 chunks of 2.5 hours. You will need a break as there is a lot of material to read and absorb. On day 1, I rented an audio guide but it is superfluous if you have the time and interest to read everything from one exhibition to the next. If you are pushed for time or just want an overview it’s useful, however. I’m a history buff and the history of WW2 and the camps was therefore well known to me, so I learned the most from the early exhibitions on how the Jews came to settle in Poland and the early tolerance that led to this as well as their challenges. It took me about 2.5 hours to get from when the Jews first arrived in Poland to the end of WW 1 and Jewish life in 1918. The next day I went through the rest of the museum. The exhibits are very well done with multi media bits of film; photos and soundtrack. The restaurant is very good and serves healthy food with lots of salads and vegetables. The lentil snd cold borscht soup are especially good. Poland had the largest population of Jews in Europe prior to WW2 and had a central rail position away from large cities, which explains why so many death camps were built in Poland and why so many Jews, Gypsies, etc. from Western Europe were transported to camps in Poland. This museum and a visit to some of the camps will help explain how this occurred.
    Visited July 2022
    Traveled solo
    Written July 22, 2022
  • Linda S
    115 contributions
    Very Comprehensive Indeed
    This is a very comprehensive museum looking at all aspects of Jewish history in Poland through the ages. Sometimes it is a bit confusing in regards to following the route around the exhibits. I suggest that you take a rest as you go around as it can become somewhat overwhelming due to the massive amount of information exhibited. Audio guides are also available. The displays are very visual and also have information in English. Well worth a visit.
    Visited January 2020
    Traveled solo
    Written January 21, 2020
  • Asa Renda
    Warsaw, Poland133 contributions
    Exhausting
    Spent 5 hours there. The museum covers a broad range of topics and spans 1000 years of history; sadly, because of that, it feels overwhelming and there's a feeling that no topic is covered extensively. This probably should be 3-4 separate museums. Still, great insight into Jewish history in Poland that doesn't shy away from difficult topics (such as Polish antisemitism).
    Visited March 2021
    Traveled as a couple
    Written March 14, 2021
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Pippa H
London, UK23 contributions
Feb 2020
The architecture of the Polin museum is very attractive and there is the option to leave coats in the cloakroom. Although there is a discounted ticket for students the woman at the desk was incredibly difficult and refused our student IDs (standard university IDs from the UK) so we had to pay the regular price. The exhibitions are very interactive and visual, with lots of first hand information as well as historical context. A lot of this information was useful and interesting, but the amount and presentation was overwhelming at times which made it hard to follow. The final rooms which focused on modern history and the treatment of Jewish people during WWII were very moving and interesting.
Written February 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

joeymanko
The Villages, FL10 contributions
May 2019
I had heard, and even seen on television of the new museum in Warsaw, about the History Of The Polish Jews! What a place! Keep in mind, this is NOT a holocaust musem, despite plenty of displays about that.

This is like a trip into time. The design and windows of this structure make it quite unique, and through the various audio and visual displays, it is like you are actually there.

This museum is also very educational for children, and recommend you take them also. It is not a "downer", but a celebration of Jewish Life in Poland!!
Written January 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Emma
Bristol, UK211 contributions
Feb 2022
I didn't realise how big this museum was before entering, so probably spent too long at the earlier sections because I had to go through the last few parts a bit quicker due to time constraints.
There was a lot of interesting information but the museum seemed to have a focus on reading things on the walls, and didn't have a lot of actual historical artefacts etc to look at. There were also several paintings which were replicas so it would have been nice to have more original things.
I didn't do the audio guide tour so that may have impacted the experience, but I found it to be quite overwhelming to read everything, and think there were parts that could have been condensed.
I think if I'd been doing it with the audio guide and spent less time in each section then it would have been a better experience, but I think it just probably wasn't my style of museum, as I'd rather read a book if absorbing so much information in one go.
Written February 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Melody Y
Taipei, Taiwan15 contributions
Jan 2020 • Solo
I thought it’s a holocaust museum but I was wrong. It starts from the very beginning when Jewish first came to Poland all the way until today. It took me 3 hours yet I didn’t finish all of them. Very very abundant history, so, take your time to take in all the information. There’s an area for visitors to take a break which I think is necessary for the visiting of this museum :)
Written January 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Poleinahole
Switzerland2,106 contributions
Jul 2022 • Solo
I spent about five hours in this museum in 2 chunks of 2.5 hours. You will need a break as there is a lot of material to read and absorb.

On day 1, I rented an audio guide but it is superfluous if you have the time and interest to read everything from one exhibition to the next. If you are pushed for time or just want an overview it’s useful, however.

I’m a history buff and the history of WW2 and the camps was therefore well known to me, so I learned the most from the early exhibitions on how the Jews came to settle in Poland and the early tolerance that led to this as well as their challenges. It took me about 2.5 hours to get from when the Jews first arrived in Poland to the end of WW 1 and Jewish life in 1918.

The next day I went through the rest of the museum.

The exhibits are very well done with multi media bits of film; photos and soundtrack.

The restaurant is very good and serves healthy food with lots of salads and vegetables. The lentil snd cold borscht soup are especially good.

Poland had the largest population of Jews in Europe prior to WW2 and had a central rail position away from large cities, which explains why so many death camps were built in Poland and why so many Jews, Gypsies, etc. from Western Europe were transported to camps in Poland. This museum and a visit to some of the camps will help explain how this occurred.
Written July 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Linda S
Nottingham115 contributions
Jan 2020 • Solo
This is a very comprehensive museum looking at all aspects of Jewish history in Poland through the ages.
Sometimes it is a bit confusing in regards to following the route around the exhibits.

I suggest that you take a rest as you go around as it can become somewhat overwhelming due to the massive amount of information exhibited. Audio guides are also available. The displays are very visual and also have information in English.
Well worth a visit.
Written January 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Asa Renda
Warsaw, Poland133 contributions
Mar 2021 • Couples
Spent 5 hours there. The museum covers a broad range of topics and spans 1000 years of history; sadly, because of that, it feels overwhelming and there's a feeling that no topic is covered extensively. This probably should be 3-4 separate museums. Still, great insight into Jewish history in Poland that doesn't shy away from difficult topics (such as Polish antisemitism).
Written March 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ArabianPrincessQatar
Doha, Qatar94 contributions
Sep 2020
I visited this museum almost eight months ago and honestly I'm still thinking about some of the exhibitions I've seen. To be clear, this museum focuses on the history of jewish people in Poland and only a small proportion is dedicated to the holocaust. Neverthless it's a very powerful element. I learnt so much, it was fascinating.
Written May 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

karol452
Edmonton, Canada966 contributions
Jun 2023 • Solo
This is a must see in Warsaw. You are given a headset/audio guide which is included in the price of the ticket. Allow at least a couple of hours to read everything. The signs are in English and Polish. This museum discusses Jewish history. My recommendation is go early and use the audio guide.
Written June 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ac1990
Birmingham, UK13 contributions
Sep 2022 • Solo
This is one of the best (if not the best) museums I have ever been to. A fascinating explanation of hundreds of years of Jewish history in Poland from the middle ages up to the present. The fit out of the exhibitions was incredible - loads of interactive elements and incredible recreations of a synagogue and various other scenes from history. It took me about 4 hours to get around and I probably only read less than 20% of all the info that was available. The audioguide was definitely with getting and helped you digest all that information. I liked how they built in breaks in the route so you could duck out to go to the cafe or toilets and then rejoin the route where you left. Very smart. I will be recommending it to anyone who goes to Warsaw.
Written September 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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POLIN Muzeum Historii Żydów Polskich (Warsaw) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Frequently Asked Questions about POLIN Muzeum Historii Żydów Polskich

POLIN Muzeum Historii Żydów Polskich is open:
  • Sun - Mon 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
  • Wed - Fri 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
  • Sat - Sat 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
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